Soldiers of the 26th Romanian Infantry Battalion mentored Iraqi soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 39th Iraqi Army Brigade, through the first four weeks of tactical, physical and weapons training of an eight-week commando training course.

“Our duty here is to improve the tactical skills of our Iraqi partners,” said Romanian Army Capt. Bumbac, the training team commander for the Romanian instructors. “They will use these tactics on real missions, so it’s important that they receive this active training.”

The future IA commandos received the same training the Romanian Special Forces units receive. The Romanian soldiers also trained their partners on Shotokan Karate, a martial art that may be used during hand-to-hand combat.

“We’re impressed with what they have accomplished so far,” said Bumbac. “It’s a pleasure to be training together with these troops.”

U.S. soldiers, assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, provided advice and assistance to the Romanians during the planning stages of the event and throughout the training.

“The Romanians are actively engaging their Iraqi partners and pushing them in the right direction,” said U.S. Army Maj. Troy Wayman, the Iraqi Security Forces Coordinator from Ainsworth, Neb., who is assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division.

Coalition forces already have begun the next phase of the commando training, which consists of complex exercises like scouting, reconnaissance, check point procedures and patrolling.

Upon graduation in late May, the Iraqi Army troops will join their units to provide security in the tri-province region of Dhi Qar, Maysan and Muthanna in southern Iraq.

Romanian soldiers teach Iraqi troops the proper firing techniques to use in a combat situation during the first phase of their commando training on Camp Ur near Contingency Operating Base Adder, Iraq, April 26, 2009. (Photo courtesy of Multinational Division South)Download screen-resolutionDownload high-resolution